Labour criticised the appointment of Ms Morgan, due to her voting record and also with the reshuffle resulting in the joint ministerial portfolio of women and equalities being separated for the first time since its creation in 1997.

Ms Morgan will report directly to the Prime Minister and not the Equalities Secretary, leading several critics to accuse David Cameron of making the Minister for Women post subordinate to a man.

However, Conservative MP and Planning minister Nick Boles tweeted it was a “tedious suggestion” to make.

Nothing irritates me more about the left than the tedious suggestion that the rights & interests of women can only be promoted by a woman.